2015 FIAT 500L vs 2015 MINI Countryman near Grand Rapids, MI

The 2015 FIAT 500L ("L" stands for "lounge") and 2015 MINI Countryman are tight competitors for people who see how both station wagons and compact cars can be beneficial, and may not be able to choose which kind of vehicle to get. People who consider these two vehicles may see many similar features between the two, and ultimately need to decide which one can fit their lifestyle better. For 2015 the FIAT 500L received a renovated instrument cluster, extra USB support with an even better center console and Bluetooth audio streaming. 2015 brings new things for the MINI Countryman, too: there are now automatic wipers and automatic climate control. Daytime running lights and LED foglights are available. The Countryman provides a vehicle that can easily be customized with good handling skills, but the 500L is spacious for occupants and has great fuel economy. Continue reading on to hear more about the 2015 MINI Countryman and FIAT 500L!

2015 FIAT 500L Power & Handling

For a basic warranty the 2015 FIAT 500L carries a 4 year/50,000 mile system. The engine is a Turbo 1.4-liter unit with four cylinders. If you get into an accident, an engine immobilizer is bound to help you out. The transmission is a six-speed manual. You will have anti-lock brakes for safety. There are front and rear disc brakes. You can make use of cruise control to stay straight on roads without having to steer. For horsepower you will get up to 160 @ 5500 revolutions per minute (rpm), and the torque is 184 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm. It offers nice fuel economy because you can get up to 33 miles per gallon (mpg) highway, 25 city and 28 combined. The fuel tank capacity is 13.2 gallons.

2015 MINI Countryman Power & Handling

The 2015 MINI Countryman has the same basic warranty as the 2015 FIAT 500L, for 4 years/50,000 miles. It also has the same standard engine, a Turbo 1.4-liter with four cylinders. Like the 500L, it also has an engine immobilizer. And the transmission is the same, being a six-speed manual. Like the FIAT 500L, this vehicle comes with anti-lock brakes. There are front and rear disc brakes, too. There have been complaints about the uncomfortable ride the Countryman provides, as well as its slow acceleration. For horsepower you can get up to 121 @ 6000 rpm, and for torque you can get up to 114 @ 4250 rpm. The fuel tank capacity is 12.4 gallons.

2015 FIAT 500L Features & Design

The 2015 FIAT 500L seats up to five people. It has four doors and alloy wheels, with available premium ones. There is standard air conditioning and a standard CD player. A premium radio is there if you would like it. The FIAT 500L was assembled in Serbia. It offers 36.7 inches of rear leg room, which is excellent for a vehicle of this size. The main cargo area has room for 21.3 cubic feet worth of stuff. 16 different colors are available for this car's exterior, and you can choose from four for the interior. The driver's seat is height-adjustable, and the seating is made of premium cloth. There are bucket front seats, and one-touch power windows to avoid having to roll the windows up and down manually.

2015 MINI Countryman Features & Design

Like the FIAT 500L, the 2015 MINI Countryman seats up to five people. It also has four doors and alloy wheels, with optional premium ones. It does offer roof rails, and air conditioning is standard for the warm days. There is a standard CD player. If you so desire, you can have a premium radio. Unlike the FIAT 500L, the MINI Countryman was not assembled in Serbia but in the United Kingdom. The Countryman does not offer as much cargo space as competitors. The maximum available rear leg room sits at 33.8 inches. Up to 17.5 cubic feet worth of belongings can fit in the cargo area. The Countryman offers ten different exterior colors, and a good amount of interior ones. Like the 500L, it has a height-adjustable driver's seat. There are also bucket front seats in this vehicle.

Conclusions

There are many options out there for people who need a vehicle that will get them to their destination, yet do it in a compact vehicle that still offers a lot of storage space. The 2015 500L is what FIAT presents to us for its car that offers plenty of storage room, while the Countryman is a wagon that is supposed to provide a lot of space. Although the Countryman does have its new features for 2015, the FIAT 500L beats it because of the room it offers and what it provides for fuel economy.

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